For a number of years now, computer centers of the enterprise and carrier classes have been repeatedly confronted with a whole series of new requirements which must be implemented by the IT management: in addition to the classic expansions of application operations driven by business processes or process re-engineering in the sense of IT service management, a particularly important role is played by cost reductions.

Cost optimization potential and little sustainability are the major features of the current situation

The need for action is shifting. Whereas in the past the emphasis was on cost optimizations through process standardizations and on falling IT infrastructure costs, the focus in many projects today is moving to the implementation of GreenICT and energy conservation measures. Naturally, even here the primary point is the reduction of costs because the expense of energy has grown substantially in the last few years and now comprises as much as 50% of the operating costs of an average large IT computer center.

At the same time, it can be determined – despite the discussions in the political world – that the ambient temperatures of computer centers are rising steadily. As a consequence, the demands being made on the outside equipment of the air conditioning system which transfers heat to the surroundings are rising even when the technical equipment remains the same. The situation is further complicated because this technical equipment itself does not stay the same; the constantly increasing packing ­density of the IT infrastructure, e.g., through blade servers, results in a manifold increase in the required cooling performance. Project experience has shown that the air-conditioning needs have a rate of increase similar to that of the outside temperature. So overall cooling costs in total, especially for HVAC (HVAC: heating, ventilation, air conditioning), will continue to rise.

The prediction of shrinking computer centers often heard 5-10 years ago has not been fulfilled – on the contrary, we see larger and larger computer centers in higher availability classes being constructed all around the globe.